Yajirobe peeked out from behind a boulder, his heart hammering in his chest. This was bad—really bad. Goku looked drained, his usual fire all but snuffed out.
Yajirobe still wasn't sure why he'd even come along in the first place. Maybe it was guilt. While his friends fought tooth and nail—and Chiaotzu had given his life—he'd done next to nothing. Well… aside from handing over that one Senzu bean.
He still couldn't wrap his head around it. Chiaotzu was gone. The little guy had always been so cheerful, so full of spirit. During those months of training together, Yajirobe had grown oddly fond of him.
"Poor guy," Yajirobe sniffled, swiping at his eyes. "We didn't even get to have a proper goodbye hunt..."
He remembered that one time they'd gone hunting—Chiaotzu had surprised him by being an amazing cook. Yajirobe's throat tightened at the memory. He'd never get to taste one of those meals again… never share that strange, quiet bond they'd stumbled into.
His eyes drifted back to Goku, who was struggling just to stay standing.
"Maybe… maybe I should do something," he murmured, clenching his fists. For once, he tried to steel himself—not with bravado, but with real courage.
.... . . . . . . . . . .
Goku was still panting audibly, his body aching with every breath.
Vegeta scoffed, his eyes narrowing. "You are beginning to bore me, Kakarot. Don't tell me you are done already."
Goku forced a grin, his determination unyielding. "Far from it," he said, though his body language said otherwise, his stance wobbly.
Vegeta laughed out loud at Goku's reply, his amusement echoing across the battlefield.
Goku gritted his teeth and widened his stance, preparing himself for what came next. He didn't know if he was going to survive this, but he had to try.
. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .
On a distant green planet, amidst the tranquil scenery...
King Gai sat on his rocking chair, reading a newspaper. The serene environment was a stark contrast to the turmoil Goku was facing.
The blue master lowered the paper and looked to the sky, his eyes reflecting a mixture of concern and hope. "I wonder how Goku is doing. I just hope he doesn't overdo the Kaio-Ken attack," he murmured, his voice tinged with worry.
Beside his master, Bubbles was hopping energetically, making his usual sounds. "Haa-haa-oo-oo-ee-ee," he chirped, seemingly unaware of the gravity of the situation.
Gregory, the diminutive, cricket-like creature, floated near. "Don't worry, King Gai. Goku will be fine. All of our prayers are with him," he reassured, his voice calm yet resolute.
King Gai nodded, but his furrowed brow betrayed his inner turmoil.
.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Back at Mount Paozu, inside a secluded room in Goku's house...
Gohan's mother, Chi-Chi, sat on the floor, her hands raised in prayer. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she pleaded silently. 'Oh God, please, protect them. Surely you are the best of protectors.'
... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. .
Goku glared ahead, his teeth clenched tightly as his body trembled with the effort of containing his growing power. Agony ripped through his muscles, each one screaming in protest, but he pushed through the searing pain.
Steam began to rise off his skin, swirling around him like smoke from a wildfire, his body radiating heat and energy.
Vegeta's confident smirk faltered, his eyes widening in disbelief. The air around them shimmered with the force of Goku's energy, the very ground seeming to tremble beneath their feet. The power Goku was unleashing was unlike anything Vegeta had expected.
Goku's screams grew louder, his muscles bulging unnaturally, veins standing out like thick cables under immense pressure. His entire body seemed to vibrate with raw, untamed power, each second pushing him further beyond his limits.
Vegeta's jaw dropped, his eyes wide with shock. This was no ordinary power-up. Kakarot wasn't just getting stronger—
'How is this possible?' Vegeta's mind raced, his disbelief etched across his face. How could he have been holding back all this time? The prince, who had always prided himself on being the strongest Saiyan warrior, was watching in awe as Kakarot shattered every expectation, surpassing limits that Vegeta himself had never breached.
Suddenly, a fiery crimson aura ignited around Goku, engulfing him in a blazing halo of energy. "Kaio-Ken... times three!" Goku shouted, his voice booming across the battlefield, the force of it sending shockwaves through the air.
Vegeta's astonishment deepened as the rock formation he stood on began to crumble, the ground violently shaking from the sheer intensity of Goku's power. The energy pouring off his opponent was overwhelming, suffocating.
In the blink of an eye, Goku was right in front of him, his fist pulled back, brimming with unstoppable force.
Time seemed to freeze for Vegeta. His wide eyes locked onto Goku's clenched fist, realizing—too late—the devastation that was about to hit him.
And then—BAM!
Goku's punch slammed into Vegeta's cheekbone with an earth-shattering impact, the force sending shockwaves rippling through the air.
The prince was sent flying at high speeds, but Goku was even faster. The Saiyan from Earth reappeared below his opponent and kicked Vegeta's lower back with both legs.
Vegeta was sent upwards by the blow. The prince used all his willpower to stop himself mid-air, his face an expression of pure rage.
With a scream, he ignited his aura around him and dashed towards Goku with a kick. However, Goku dodged the attack and used his knee to hit Vegeta in the chest.
"Argh!" Vegeta gasped in pain, his breath knocked out of him.
Goku then punched Vegeta on the forehead, sending him flying and crashing into a rock formation. A hole was left in it from where Vegeta had entered.
Goku's crimson aura disappeared as he waited for Vegeta to come out. A few moments passed by. Goku could still clearly sense his opponent's energy.
"RAAAAAH!"
A huge explosion erupted from the rock formation, reducing it to fragments and revealing an enraged Vegeta. Vegeta's face was contorted with pure fury, his forehead bleeding from Goku's last blow.
Goku reignited his aura and dashed towards Vegeta once again.
Vegeta pulled back his fist to attack the oncoming Saiyan, but Goku changed course to come from behind and kicked him on the back.
Vegeta fell onto his face, the impact cracking the ground.
The prince slowly got up, still trembling with pure rage. With an expletive, he hurled a punch at Goku, only for it to be caught. He then threw another punch, but it was caught too.
Goku then squeezed his opponent's fists, causing Vegeta to howl in pain, his head pulled back in agony.
It was then that Goku released Vegeta's hands and implanted his fist into Vegeta's abdomen.
Vegeta's mouth dropped open. He clasped his abdomen with both hands, doubling over in pain. Blood flew out of his mouth, splattering onto the ground.
Goku stood, panting visibly with exertion as he watched Vegeta take steps backward, his legs trembling.
Vegeta turned and fell on his side, his back facing Goku. The prince was still holding his abdomen, his face contorted in a mixture of agony and disbelief. 'How?! How could Kakarot, a low-class Saiyan, do this to him?! Him! The Prince of all Saiyans!'
Vegeta coughed, blood dribbling from his lips.
Goku looked on, his own body barely holding together. He didn't know how much longer he could sustain the Kaiyoken attack. This was a much-needed respite, but he knew it wouldn't last long.
Vegeta gritted his teeth. Kakarot will pay, he wouldn't get away with this..not ever! The prince suddenly spun to his feet and propelled himself into the air. His eyes blazed with fury, and his voice ripped through the sky like thunder.
"KAKAROT!" he roared, the name laced with venom. "IF YOU TRULY ARE YOUR FATHER'S SON, FACE THIS ATTACK HEAD-ON!" His entire body pulsed with raw, untamed energy, a violent purple aura erupting around him. The power surging through him felt limitless as the prince of Saiyans screamed, his voice echoing like a war cry across the battlefield.
On the ground, Goku's heart raced. He wasn't ready. He needed more time, but it was clear he wasn't going to get any. The air crackled with tension as Goku, his face tight with pain, knew the moment had come. There was no running away from this. He ignited his own crimson aura which swirled around him like flames. Every muscle in his body screamed in agony, but he forced his hands to his waist.
"Kamehame..." Goku grunted through gritted teeth, feeling the strain of his energy, barely holding it together. Around him, the ground appeared to shake violently. Rocks levitated, as though the landscape itself was holding its breath in anticipation.
Above him, Vegeta's aura crackled like lightning, growing darker, more intense. His face twisted into a snarl. 'This ends now. '
"NOW SAY GOODBYE, KAKAROT! GALICK GUN…FIRE!" Vegeta screamed, his voice tearing through the heavens as he unleashed a massive beam of violet energy. The blast was enormous—larger than Vegeta himself—tearing through the sky and obliterating everything in its path.
"HA!" Goku cried, releasing his Kamehameha wave, the brilliant blue energy exploding from his palms with enough force to shake the air. The two beams collided mid-way, the shockwave of the impact sending cracks across the ground and blasting apart the battlefield in a blinding flash of light.
For a moment, the world seemed to stand still.
The sheer force of the energy beams crashing against one another was unbearable, pushing out waves of power that rippled through the entire area. Yajirobe, who had been watching from a distance, was thrown violently backward, tumbling like a leaf caught in a storm.
. .. . . . . . .
Master Roshi's scouter beeped wildly, the numbers spiking beyond comprehension. The old man's face went pale as the device trembled, then exploded into pieces. His voice was barely above a whisper. "What in the world? "
Khami wiped sweat from his brow, staring into the distance where the battle raged. "It's... unimaginable," he muttered, awe-struck.
. . . . . . . . . . .
Above the battlefield, Vegeta grunted, pouring every last drop of his power into his Galick Gun. He could barely comprehend it. His attack, meant to utterly destroy the entire area, was being met and matched by Kakarot, a low-class warrior!
"This is impossible!" Vegeta growled, his muscles screaming under the strain as he pushed harder. "Kakarot, you... YOU'RE NOTHING!"
With a primal scream Vegeta poured the last of his reserves into the attack, his beam swelling in size.
On the ground, Goku's body trembled with the effort. The tremendous force of Vegeta's power was beginning to overwhelm him. His Kamehameha was losing ground. Desperation clawed at his chest. 'I can't lose... everyone's counting on me!'
Suddenly, Goku's eyes snapped open. There was only one thing left he could do. He had held this one back, hoping it wouldn't come to this, but now... "KAIYOKEN... TIMES FOUR!"
With a scream that shook the air, Goku's body erupted with a surge of power far beyond anything he had tapped into before. His aura exploded into a blinding red inferno, and the force of his Kamehameha wave doubled in size, roaring back against Vegeta's attack.
"NOOOO!" Vegeta screamed, his face twisting in terror as his Galick Gun was consumed by Goku's overpowering wave of energy. The prince tried to hold his ground, but the force was too much. In an instant, Goku's attack slammed into him, engulfing him in a torrent of searing blue energy.
Vegeta's scream echoed as he was launched high into the sky, his body flung like a ragdoll, carried away by the unstoppable force of Goku's Kamehameha. He disappeared from sight, swallowed by the clouds and the light of the attack.
On the ground, Goku staggered, panting heavily. His body ached from the exertion, every muscle trembling with fatigue. The fiery crimson aura of the Kaioken flickered and died out around him. He had nothing left.
The battlefield fell into a deafening silence, broken only by the soft hum of the lingering energy in the air. The rocks that had been floating around slowly drifted back to the ground.
Goku, breathing hard, looked up toward the sky where Vegeta had disappeared. He had survived... but for how long?
...
Yajirobe lay flat on his back, staring at the sky when he noticed something— something distant and fading—shooting upwards and disappearing from view. He squinted, his mind racing. Had Goku's attack really overpowered the Saiyan's?
With a sudden burst of excitement, Yajirobe scrambled to his feet. A wide grin spread across his face as he rushed forward to congratulate his friend.
"Hey, Goku!" he called, his voice booming with uncharacteristic enthusiasm.
Goku, still catching his breath, blinked in surprise as he saw the rotund swordsman approaching swiftly. "Yajirobe?"
In an instant, Yajirobe was at Goku's side, clapping him on the back. "Great job dealing with that Saiyan! I almost thought he had you back there." His hand landed with a hearty slap, only for Goku to cry out in pain.
Startled, Yajirobe froze, his expression bewildered. "What the—?"
Goku grimaced, forcing a strained smile. "That last attack took a lot out of me... I'm still feeling it."
Yajirobe chuckled, seemingly unconcerned. "Well, hey, at least you got rid of that Saiyan."
Goku's expression shifted, more serious now. "Actually... I didn't. I'm afraid the last attack wasn't enough to finish him off. He's hurt, but he'll be back soon."
Yajirobe's face drained of color, his earlier confidence evaporating in an instant. He chuckled nervously, backing away. "W-Well... I just remembered something, Goku. Something real important."
Without waiting for a response, Yajirobe spun on his heel and took off, running as fast as his legs would carry him, his retreat almost comical.
Goku stared after him, utterly confused. 'What could he have possibly remembered?' He blinked, wincing from the lingering pain. 'Maybe he left something in the oven.'
...
High above, Vegeta was yelling in agony as he continued to be pushed upwards by Goku's Kamehameha wave. His body was battered, and his armor cracked and broken in several places. With a final, desperate effort, he broke free from the energy beam, veering off to the side.
"Hah... ha... ha..." Vegeta panted heavily, his chest heaving. The once proud Saiyan prince was now a tattered mess.
He clenched his fists in fury. "WHY?! WHY?! HE SHOULD BE NOTHING COMPARED TO ME!" Vegeta screamed at the top of his lungs, his voice echoing through the twilight sky.
He looked around frantically, searching for a solution. 'What can I do to defeat him?' The sky was darkening into dusk, casting long shadows across the battlefield. If only it were a full-moon night. 'Blast it!' he cursed. It wasn't.
Then, a memory surfaced. Vegeta remembered something he had learned years ago, a wicked grin spreading across his face. Yes! This should work! Kakarot didn't have his tail anymore!
The prince began to descend, heading back towards where he expected Kakarot to be. His descent was slow and calculated, his mind racing with plans.
...
Goku stood, still panting for breath, his body aching with exhaustion. He sensed Vegeta's approach, the energy signature growing stronger. 'No,' he thought, worry in his eyes.
Vegeta landed in front of Goku, a confident grin spreading across his features. He clenched his fist in front of him. "Any hopes you held of defeating me are about to be sent flying out of the window."
Goku remained silent, his eyes narrowed. He had become accustomed to the boasts of his enemies over his past twelve years or so of fighting.
Vegeta laughed maniacally. "Now watch the true power of a Saiyan warrior! Something a tail-less mutant like you could never hope to achieve!" With that, Vegeta threw a ball of ki into the sky.
Goku huffed, his mind half-wondering if he should tell Vegeta that he wasn't a mutant. His tail had simply been removed multiple times when he was young, and now it refused to re-grow.
Vegeta's gaze was fixed on the orb of energy he had thrown, his heartbeat increasing by the second. The orb began to glow brighter, illuminating the darkening sky.
"What?!" Goku was startled as Vegeta's eyes turned pure white, his muscles bulged, and his teeth elongated into fangs.
A pang of fear shot through Goku as Vegeta began to increase in size, hair sprouting all over his body. This was unlike anything he had ever seen.
Vegeta howled loudly, his deep voice echoing across the landscape. The ground shook beneath his massive form, his eyes burning with a savage fury.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Piccolo, Gohan, and Krillin arrived at the battlefield where they had fought Nappa earlier. The ground was still scarred from the intense battle, craters and scorch marks littering the landscape. However, Goku and Vegeta were nowhere to be seen.
A distant howl echoed around them.
Both Gohan and Krillin trembled with fear.
Gohan's mouth hung open. "D-did you hear that, Krillin?"
Krillin was shivering, eyes darting around nervously. "Whatever it was, it didn't sound good."
Piccolo gritted his teeth, scanning the horizon. Could it be? No. The moon wasn't up. The Namekian's eyes widened as he spotted something just over the horizon. "Gohan... Krillin... I think Goku may be in trouble."
"What?" Gohan's worry was palpable as he clenched his fists. "No. Dad..."
Krillin was still shaking. "It couldn't be that, Piccolo. Could it?"
Piccolo forced a smile, sweat glistening on his forehead. "I'm afraid it is."
Krillin looked pale, fear gripping him.
"What is it, Krillin?" asked Gohan, his voice quivering.
Piccolo grinned nervously. "You'll find out when we get there, Gohan. Your dad needs our help."
Krillin gulped and nodded, composing himself as best he could.
"Let's go," said Piccolo. The three blasted off towards the glowing object on the horizon, their speed increasing as they sensed the escalating danger.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Goku's mouth hung open in disbelief as a massive shadow fell over him. Before his eyes, Vegeta had transformed into a monstrous Great Ape, his body towering above the landscape, his presence staggering.
The stories Goku had heard as a child flooded back to him—tales of a giant ape that appeared under the light of the full moon. It all made sense now. 'I was the one who wrecked the martial arts tournament, I was the one who destroyed the Pilavv castle and... I was the one ..who crushed my Grandpa!'
Vegeta's deep, booming laughter echoed across the battlefield, his transformed body radiating sheer dominance. To him, Kakarot looked like a mere insect. "How would you prefer to die, Kakarot?" Vegeta's voice was filled with twisted amusement. "Stamped flat into the ground? Impaled on my finger? Or turned to mince-meat between my jaws and eaten? The choice is yours."
Perhaps for the first time in his life, panic seized Goku's chest. Without a second thought, he dashed backward, attempting to put as much distance between himself and the terrifying creature as possible.
Vegeta, his massive form barely needing to exert effort, stalked after him with terrifying calm "Look at the brave hero! The protector of his planet, running away like a frightened child! HAHAHA!"
Goku's teeth clenched as he kept moving, desperately trying to formulate a plan. He needed distance. If he could just gain some space, he still had a trump card. "Kayoken!" he shouted, his body instantly enveloped in the familiar red aura.
Vegeta grinned as he saw the crimson glow flare around Kakarot. 'That trick again.' He knew this wouldn't save him.
Goku glanced over his shoulder as he sped through the air, hoping his Kayoken would give him the edge in speed. But just as relief started to creep in, he froze. Vegeta was already ahead of him.
BAM!
The ground cracked beneath him as Vegeta's massive fist smashed Goku from the sky, sending him crashing down with a sickening thud. Goku's body screamed in pain as he lay sprawled across the shattered earth, gasping for breath.
Before he could react, Vegeta leaped into the air and brought his enormous foot crashing down on Goku's leg.
"AAAAARGHHH!" Goku's scream tore through the air, filled with raw agony.
Vegeta's laugh rumbled like thunder. "Oops. Looks like I stepped on your leg, Kakarot. Or was it your toes?" The mockery in his voice only deepened Goku's torment.
Goku's vision blurred. The world around him swam in and out of focus. His body was failing him, his mind teetering on the edge of unconsciousness. He had to fight. Had to survive.
Vegeta, towering over him, pulled back his enormous finger, aiming it like a spear. "Since you couldn't decide, Kakarot, I'll make the choice for you. "I'll impale you on my finger!"
Just as the death blow was about to strike..
DHISHUN!
Vegeta howled in agony, staggering backward as his massive hand shot up to cover his injured eye. Goku, using every last bit of his strength, had fired a desperate ki blast straight into Vegeta's eye.
A small, tired smile crossed Goku's face as he let his head fall back. His body was wrecked, but he had bought himself a moment—just a moment.
Vegeta, blinded by rage, gnashed his teeth, the pain from his eye fueling his fury. He lowered his hand, his injured eye swollen and bloodshot. "You..." he growled, his voice trembling with hatred. "I've changed my mind. I won't kill you quickly. First, I'll break every bone in your body!"
The Great Ape's massive hands reached down, grabbing Goku's limp form. With both fists, Vegeta began to squeeze, crushing Goku with terrifying strength.
Goku's entire body felt as though it were being torn apart. Bones creaked under the pressure, and his mind was consumed by a pain like nothing he had ever known.
"AAAAAAAGH! AAAAAAAAANGH!" His tortured screams filled the battlefield, each one as desperate and terrifying to shake the coldest of men..
He could no longer think, no longer comprehend, his entire being engulfed by sheer pain.
To be continued...